Business in Brief

WYOMISSING — Tompkins VIST Bank today has announced several staff appointments. Paula Barron has been promoted to senior vice president and chief retail banking officer; Kathy Wolfe has joined the company as vice president and human resources manager and William Lemon has joined the company as a residential mortgage originator.

In her new role, Barron will oversee retail strategies for Tompkins VIST Bank including overall management of retail personnel, sales strategies and branch administration. She reports to President and CEO Scott Gruber.

A veteran of 25 years in banking, Barron previously was senior vice president of marketing for Tompkins Financial, Tompkins VIST Bank’s parent company, directing marketing for the insurance and wealth management groups and internal communications. Prior to that, she was chief marketing officer for Tompkins VIST Bank’s predecessor company, VIST Financial.

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Barron, of Wyomissing, has a bachelors degree from Bloomsburg University and is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Bankers Advanced School of Banking and the American Bankers Association Marketing School.

Active in the community, she has assumed leadership roles in many organizations including serving on the boards of the United Way of Berks County and Berks Encore. She also is a member of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Women2Women committee.

In her position, Wolfe is responsible for directing the company’s human resources activities and assuring compliance with policies and procedures.

Wolfe has 15 years of human resource experience, most recently serving as director of human resources at The Loomis Company.

A resident of Oley, Wolfe has a bachelor of arts degree in management and administration from Alvernia University. She is active in the community, serving as a volunteer with The United Way of Berks County and American Cancer Society’s Berks Relay for Life. In addition, she is a member of the Christian Education and Altar Guild committees of Friedens United Church of Christ.

In his position, Lemmon is responsible for advising clients in the Philadelphia region on the best short- and long-term solutions for their mortgage needs. He reports to Pamela Shenk, senior vice president, residential mortgage lending manager.

Lemon has 31 years of experience in advising clients on first-time, conventional, construction-to-permanent, Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration mortgages. He previously was a senior mortgage loan officer at Citizens Bank.

A resident of Collegeville, Lemon has a bachelor of business administration degree from Temple University. His community service includes serving as a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Eleanor Church in Collegeville.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced it is seeking grant proposals to award up to $1.5 million in funding to for-profit and non-profit service providers including, but not limited to, universities, trade and professional associations, firms and other organizations. The grants are for special projects to promote the development, success, and long-term survival of small disadvantaged businesses participating in the agency’s 8(a) Business Development Program.

SBA expects to award 6-10 grants in the range of $150,000-$250,000, and up to two awards may be made to small businesses. Applications will be accepted through July 20 and awards will be issued by September 30.

Specifically, SBA is seeking unique and innovative projects to provide specialized training, executive education, and tools to promote business development of eligible firms. However, grants cannot be used by small businesses themselves as a source of funding to grow or otherwise expand their individual enterprises.

Through these projects, the SBA intends to increase the range of services available to eligible firms by addressing many issues facing them including, but not limited to:

• teaming with other businesses;

• mastering the process of federal contracting;

• reversing declines and turning around businesses; and

• securing loan financing or private equity funding.

For more information, visit www.Grants.gov website, and search keyword ‘GCBD-7J-2014-01.’